HDTV question

[V8Square]

I want to purchase a HDTV for my 1996 Hi-Lo and have a question. It has an antenna, most likely for analog only. Question is, what do I need to do to use my HDTV? Thanks

[LindaH]

The batwing antenna on your rig should work just fine for digital. I'd certainly give it a try before spending the money to replace it.

[Bill Adams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8Square I want to purchase a HDTV for my 1996 Hi-Lo and have a question. It has an antenna, most likely for analog only. Question is, what do I need to do to use my HDTV? Thanks

There is no such thing as an analog antenna. Only antennas that will receive the VHF and UHF over-the-air signals. I suspect that yours will be fine and if it is a Winegard batwing then it will definitely be fine. You can consider adding a Wingman to it if it is a Winegard to help improve the UHF reception. Most of the digital OTA broadcasts are on the UHF frequency.

[NLOVNIT]

We added the Wingman (purchased from RVUpgrades, a site sponsor) to our existing antenna & it definitely improved reception. Extremely easy installation - no tools needed.

Lori-

[V8Square]

I would like to thank everyone for the replies. When I spoke to the people today at ny local Best Buy, they said my antenna when not work with a HDTV

[smlranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8Square I would like to thank everyone for the replies. When I spoke to the people today at ny local Best Buy, they said my antenna when not work with a HDTV

Well, those teenagers at Best Buy are wrong. My Winegard RV antenna picks up digital signals, some HD, just fine. I also added the Wingman and I am pretty amazed how much over-the-air programming there is (from someone who has used primarily Direct TV for years).

[Mandys Man]

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8Square I would like to thank everyone for the replies. When I spoke to the people today at ny local Best Buy, they said my antenna when not work with a HDTV

I agree with Smlranger. They are wrong. They just want to sell you something else. Probably no one there has or had an RV and are not familiar with what is on them or how they work.
An example,,,,I had a Winegard antenna on my house for years. Worked just fine for receiving local channels even when they began transmitting in HD. I have a Slim-Line 1080 toshiba 120Hz HDTV that worked just fine with it.

[Bill Adams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8Square I would like to thank everyone for the replies. When I spoke to the people today at ny local Best Buy, they said my antenna when not work with a HDTV

Rarely does Best Buy miss an answer this badly! Not only is it wrong, it is stupid. Of course your antenna will work with HDTV! Was your antenna able to pick up both VHF (channels 2-13) and UHF channels (14+) with the TV you had before? If so, if still can and that's where the HDTV channels are located.

[Gary - K7GLD]

An antenna is an antenna, is an antenna, is an antenna!

It only "cares" abut the frequency it's designed for, NOT the mode - and will capture HDTV just as fast and easily as Analog, or FM, or AM, or...

Only related issue *I* am aware of, is that the HDTV *is* more sensitive to low station signal strength, and a good solid received signal is needed for best picture quality - and sometimes THAT requires something better than a beat up and tired older antenna and feedline...

[V8Square]

Well, guesss I am just going to have to see what brand this antenna is. I am really stupid when it comes to HDTV etc. We just purchased this Hi-Lo about a month ago and have not had the opportunity to even try a TV in it.

[Bill Adams]

Honestly, it doesn't matter what brand it is. You have an antenna that was built sometime after 1995 and it will work just fine with VHF and UHF broadcasts. Some antennas may give you a somewhat better signal strength than others, but all will be fully compatible with the current HDTV broadcasts.

[DAN L]

while the winegard wingman did substantially increase the signal strength of digital signals, it did make my winegard batwing antenna much more directional. i am using the original equipment crt tv's and a magnavox converter-dvd recorder-vcr in the front and a magnavox digital converter box with analog passthrough in the rear.

[mrschwarz]

Another vote for the Batwing/Wingman combination. It works fine with my HDTVs

[wa8yxm]

The antenna on most RV's is VHF/UHF television antenna.

It can not distinguish between UHF analog and UHF Digital (most digital is UHF) nor can it distinguish between VHF analog and the occasional VHF analog.

In short, the antenna will work

NOTE: If it is a winegard you MIGHT want to consider installing the WINGMAN accessory.. I needed zero tools (though a pair of standard pilars was in my pocket and may help some folks